fernandez



March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZ APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING oNcoNcAvr; 0R coNvEX sURFACEs 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

z my T.N mm V@ M M m m J 2. JJM/wwf March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZAPPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING oN coNcAvE 0R coNvEx suRFAcEs 4Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 9, 1954 @NJ Am TL x f f \r r M Il 11% R L SOXk@ mm M MarCh 27, I1956 J. V. FERNANDEZ 2,739,532

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING ON CONCAVE OR CONVEX SURFACES FiledDec. 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f//MM March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZAPPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING oN coNcAvE 0R com/Ex suRFAcEs 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed DEC. 9, 1954 Wmv .d2/TNQ-, A w n E w P s .m .MAR)NQ ./off' mana INVEMTOR. Ffm/.4 Noiz APPARATUS nonnnconarnso onPRINTING N CoNCAvE on CoNvEX SURFACES Jos Valiela Fernandez, New Yaris,N. Y.

Application December 9, 1954, Serial No. 474,165

S Claims. (Cl. 10i- 126) in the pattern is impressed upon a transfermember by a silk screen arrangement that is movable to a station overthe transfer member and out of the way to permit the transfer member tobe lifted and disposed over the ceramic article to be decorated orprinted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method forprinting and decorating ceramic articles wherein the operator can effectthe method from one station and wherein the operations are carried outwith ease and require the simple movement of the members by the hands ofthe operator and permit the automatic alignment of the members in theirstations where the work is to be performed.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a printing apparatusfor ceramic articles a centering device which locates the article in theproper location to receive the imprint from the transfer member.

lt is another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus forprinting patterns on ceramic articles an operating lever serving toengage the transfer member frame to hold the same in place prior to andduring the use of the compressed air to etfect the extension of therubber transfer member on to the ceramic surface and which, at the sametime, automatically effects the operation of the air valve that controlsthe ilow of compressed air to the transfer frame.

lt is another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus forprinting upon ceramic articles means associated with the rubber-liketransfer member to permit the escape of air from between the face of themember and the dish to be printed.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatusfor printing and decorating ceramic articles that has two silk screenarrangements adjustable from different locations to a station over thetransfer member so as to permit the use of different color ink'. uponthe ceramic article and wherein the silk screen arrangements are withineasy reach orv the operator and a common transfer member is used toprint the two colors, one at a time, upon the ceramic article.

Other objects of the invention are to provide aprint'ing apparatus forceramic articles which is of simple construction, has a minimum numberof parts, inexpensiveto manufacture, easily operated by a singleoperator, durable, compact, accurate, and etlicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed 2,739,532 Patented Mar.27, 1956 description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus used in carrying out themethod of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken through the support for theceramic article and as viewed online 4 4 of Fig'. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 5 5 of Fig. 2 and through the trausfer member` and looking upon theair escape device;

Figor is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. A2l andlooking upon the apparatus for ejecting the ceramic article;

Fig". 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the silkscreening arrangement and as viewed on line 7 7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tensioning springarrangement for the centering ring as viewed on line 8 8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a further form of the invention wherein twosilk screen arrangements are used in order to permit the use of twoditie'r'ent colors for transfer upon the ceramic article.

Referring now to the figures, 10 represents a supporting table havingend legs 11 and 1.2. The table is elongated and has three Workingstations. These stations are indicated generally at 13,l 1li and 1:3'.The station 173* is located at the lefthand end of the table and overwhich may be located and slid a silk screen assembly indicated generallyat 16 that has an imprint 17 which is to be put on a transfer assembly18 that has a rubber sheet 19. The transfer assembly 18 is hinged at oneend to the table by a hinge connection 20 so that the assembly 18 can bepivoted from the intermediate station 14 to overlie the station 15 atthe right hand endof the table. The silk screen arrangement is used forimprinting the design upon the rubber sheet 19 and is slidable betweenthe lefthand station 13 and the intermediate station in grooves 21 and22 that extend between the stations 13 and 14. When the transfer rubbersheet assembly 18 is to be hinged from the station 14 to the station 15,the silk screen arrangement 16y is returned to the station 13. A ceramicarticle or plate 23 is supported at the station 15 at the righthand end`of the table by means to be further described, the imprint from thetransfer assembly 18 is made upon the plate 23.

The silk screen arrangement 16 includes a matrix" frame 25 to which silkscreen 26 having the pattern or opening 17 is aixed on the undersidethereof. This frame 13 is in turn supported on a rigid frame 27 that hasat the opposite sides thereof depending ilanges 28 and 29 that runrespectively in the grooves 21 and 22 in the table 10. The matrix frame25 is secured to the rigid frame 27 by four fastening bolts 31 and wingnuts 32. The two frames provide a printing carriage and the top framehas handles 33 and 34 by which the arrangement or carriage can bereadily moved along the grooves 21 and 22 from station 13 to station 14.Within the frames 25 and 27 is a squeegee 35 having handles 36 and 37and a rubber strip 38 that serves to distribute paint or ink over thesilk` screen 26 as the squeegee is moved back andV forth by the operatorand when the silk screen arrangement` is disposed over the rubber sheet19 and upon station 14 so that the ink or paint is distributed throughIthe pattern openings 17 and imprinted upon the rubber sheet 1.9.

In order to control and properly position thesilk screen arrangement 16over the rubber sheet 19 of the transfer assembly 18, an adjustablepositioning bolt 39 is adjustably secured to the rigid frame 27 at therighthaud side thereof. The bolt 39 is locked in its adjusted positionby a lock nut 40. The bolt 39 will engage the stationary stop 41 locatedat the end of groove 22 on the table so that the imprint will beproperly centered over the rubber sheet 19. The imprint upon the rubbersheet 19 is indicated at 1'7, Fig. 2.

The transfer assembly 18 when at the station 14 lies within an openingin the table 10 so that the rubber sheet to the bottom plate 43. Therubber sheet 19 is secured about the periphery of the perforated plate48 by a band clamp 51. An air chamber 52 is provided within theperforated plate 48 in which air is delivered through an air inlet pipe53 to the chamber 52 in order to lift the rubber sheet 19 from theperforated plate at the time the plate is printed.

The rubber sheet 19 is provided with a small reinforced opening 54 whichserves as an exhaust opening or exit for any air that may be trappedbetween the rubber sheet and the article or plate onto which the designis transferred. To permit the trapped air to move out through the bottomplate 43, a floating tubular device 55 made of relatively lightweightmaterial is connected about the rubber sheet opening 54, Fig. 5. Thisstructure 55 includes an inner tube or pipe 56 and an outer tube or pipe57. The inner tube 56 has a flange 58 that rests on the top face of therubber sheet. This inner tube 56 penetrates the rubber sheet and extendsdownwardly through the outer tube 57. The outer tube 57 has a ilange 59that engages with the underside of the sheet 19. The inner tube 56 isthreaded at its lower end as indicated at 60 and by tightening nuts v61and 62 upon the threaded end 60 of the inner sleeve, the ilanges 58 and59 of the tubes are brought into tight clamping relationship With theopposite faces of the rubber sheet 19. The

floating tubular structure 55, while being carried by the rubber sheet,is slidable through aligned openings in the perforated plate 48, aspacer 63 and the bottom plate 43.

The top plate 46 has a projection 65 which has a j handle 66 thereon bywhich the transfer assembly 18 is lifted out of the opening in thetable. This projection extends through a notch or recess 67 in thetable. The projection has a short groove 68 that is co-extensive andaligned with the groove 22 in the table 10.

The hinge projection 20 has a hinge pin 69 that has an arm 70 thatextends downwardly over the rear edge of the table 10 and to which acounterweight spring 71 is connected. This spring is anchored to adepending projection 72 on the table, Fig. 3. The hinge 20 is connectedto the right hand end of the opening out of which the transfer assemblyis pivoted and to the righthand edge of the assembly. The counterweightspring 71 will assist the operator as the rubber sheet assembly ishinged from station 14 to station 15 or vice versa.

The station 15 of the table has an opening 73 therein in which anadjustable plate support 74 is disposed. A peripheral flange 75 extendsaround the opening 73 and the adjustable plate support 74 is supportedon this flange 75 and secured thereto by fastening bolts 76. The supportdevice has a depending portion 77 in which a central supporting plate 78is adjustable. This plate 78 has a threaded bolt 79 that is adjustablethrough a threaded opening in the portion 77 so that the plate 78 can beadjusted to different elevations. A wing nut 80 is seall) 4 cured to thebolt 79 and will lock the bolt and the plate 78 in the adjusted positionof the plate 78. The ceramic plate 23 is supported on the plate 78, asshown in Fig. 4.

The support 74 has an annular bead projecting upwardly from the topthereof as indicated at 81 around which extends a centering ring 82.

In the top of the support 74 and cutting the bead are three slots spaced120 degrees apart as indicated respectively at 83, 84 and 85. Radiallyadjustable in these slots are centering pins or lugs 87, 88 and 89respectively fitting said slots. Each of these lugs or pins has anupwardly extending pin 90, Fig. 4. This pin extends into an angled slot91 in the ring 82. There are three of these slots as indicated at 91, 92and 93, and they lie respectively adjacent the centering pins 87, 88 and89.

The centering ring has a handle arm 94 that extends toward the frontedge of the table and which has an upstanding handle 95 that is graspedby the operator to turn the ring. As the ring 82 is turned clockwise, asviewed in Fig. 2, the respective lugs will be retracted by virtue of thepins 90 moving toward the outer periphery of the ring 82 and radiallyoutwardly in their respective slots. The ceramic plate will bepositioned upon the platform or supporting plate 78 by the operator, butupon f turning the ring 82 in a counterclockwise direction, the inclinedslots will cause the centering pins to be brought against the edge ofthe ceramic plate so as to center the same upon the platform or plate 78and in a proper position to receive the imprint from the rubber sheet 19when the transfer assembly 18 overlies the plate 23.

ln order that the ring 82 can be turned in a counterclockwise direction,three return springs 96 are provided respective in arcuate recesses 97,98 and 99 in the top and outer periphery of the article support 74. Eachspring is anchored at one end in the arcuate slot or groove as indicatedat 100 and at its other end by means of a pin 101 to the underside ofthe centering ring 82. By means of these springs 96, the centering ringis returned to its original position so that the lugs 87, 88 and 89 areextended to retain the plate 23.

After the ceramic plate 23 has been inserted and centered upon itssupporting platform 78, the rubber sheet assembly 18 is hinged over theceramic plate 23 so that the rubber sheet 19 is aligned with the top ofthe ceramic plate to accurately receive the imprint from the rubbersheet 19. With the rubber sheet transfer assembly 18 over the plate, itis locked in place by a locking roller 102 which is swung on its pivotto extend over the assembly 18, in the manner shown in dotted lines inFig. 2 and Fig. 3. This roller is operated from a handle 108. The rolleris supported on a vertical post 109 that is anchored to the table 10 bylock nuts 111 on the threaded end`112.

The turning of the locking handle 108 and of the roller 107 is utilizedto operate a control valve 113 which has a stem 114 secured to the endof the post 109 by a clamp screw 115. The valve 113 is connected by apipe 116 toa source of compressed air supply and an exhaust pipe 117. Aconduit 118 is connected to the sleeve S3 so as to supply air underpressure to the chamber 52 in order extend the rubber sheet 19 on to thetop surface of the ceramic plate 23 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3and 4. This will cause a fresh impression of ink upon the rubber sheetto be printed upon the plate. Any air that may have been trapped betweenthe ceramic plate and the rubber sheet will be led off through thefloating tubular structure 55. When the printing has been effected uponthe ceramic plate in this manner, the roller 107 is released from thetransfer sheet assembly 18. The valve 113 will be operated so that thecompressed air which has expanded the rubber sheet 19 will be exhaustedthrough the exhaust opening 117 of the valve and at the same time thecompressed air source delivered through pipe 116 is cut ot. The transferassembly is accordingly lifted with-the aid of the counterweight spring'Iland 5 returned to its position within its openingl in the centralstation 14 of the table.

In` order to provide access to the edge or undersurface of the ceramic,plate to permit its ready and easy removal from the cavity in thesupport 74, an ejector device 121 is provided. This ejector has a shortrod 122 that extends through a hole 123 in the support 74 so that thefront end of the rod 122 normally lies under the periphery of theceramic plate and out of the way. The rod 122 is pivotally connected at124 to a long plunger rod 125 having a pressure button 126. Acompression spring 127 surrounds the rod 125 and engages the edge of thetable and the under face of the pressure button 126. Upon the pressurebutton 126 being pushed. inwardly, the rod 122 swings upwardly in themarmer illustrated by the dotted line position in Fig. 6 to lift theplate sufficiently so as to allow a finger indicated at 128 to be placedunder it so that the ceramic plate can be readily taken from the supportand the support made ready for receiving another plate to be printed.

In Fig. 9, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein theplate can be decorated with two different colors of ink. A table 126 isprovided which is similar to the table 10 but which has a rearwardextension from its intermediate station. On the table is a silk screenarrangement that slides in grooves 127 and 128 to an intermediatestation 129 and over a transfer assembly 130 having a rubber sheet 131for receiving the imprint of a pattern 132 on the silk screenarrangement 126.

When the silk screen arrangement 126 is adjusted along the grooves 127and 128 so that its adjustable stop 132 engages with fixed stop 133,squeegee 134 is used over the pattern 132 to force the ink therethroughand onto the rubber sheet 131.

The rubber sheet 131 is carried over a perforated plate 135 throughwhich compressed air is forced in the manner as above described to causethe rubber sheet 131 to be expanded when the transfer assembly 130 ishinged upon its hinge connection 136 to be located over ceramic plate137 lying in a plate support device 138 and surrounding which is a platecentering device 139 which operates centering pins or fingers 140, 141and 142. This centering ring has a handle 143 by which the ring isturned. The assembly 130 will be held in place by the roller device 144that is swung thereover. This roller device 144 operates a controlvalve\similar to the control valve arrangement shown in Fig. 3, whichdelivers air through the rubber sheet 131 so that it expands into theceramic plate 137 to print the pattern thereon.

The hinge 136 has a pin 145 which has an arm 146 operated by a tensionspring 147. This tension spring 147 acts as a counterweight for therubber assembly 131.

As soon as the plate 137 has been printed from the ink of the silkscreen device 126, the rubber sheet device 130 is returned to thestation 129, the rubber sheet 131 is cleaned to prepare it for receivingdesign 149 from silk screen device 150 that extends over an added rearstation 151 of the table and which is moved along grooves 152 and 153that extend at right angles to the grooves 127 and 12S which the silkscreen device 136 traverses.

This silk screen device 150 will have a different pattern and will beused to provide a different color for the ceramic plate 137. The silkscreen device 150 is slid along to the station 129 over the rubber sheet131. Its squeegee 154 is worked thereover to apply the ink to the rubbersheet 131.

Thereafter, the silk screen device 150 is returned to the station 151and the rubber sheet device 131 is again hinged so as to overlie theplate 137 where it is locked by the roller 144 and the air is deliveredto the rubber sheet 131 to expand it into the dinner plate 137 and toprint the same with a different color. The transfer assembly 131 is thenreturned to the position in Fig. 9 and a lifting device 155 is pressedinwardly to move theplate out of its support 138.

-It should now be apparent that there has been pro.- vided a method andapparatus for effecting the printing of ceramic articles of unevensurface, wherein the design is placed on a transfer rubber sheet bymeans of silk screen arrangements slidable along the table in groovesand upon being retracted to their original positions, the rubbertransfer device is lifted through a hinge connection to a position overthe plate to be printed and which is being held in a plate support.

It will also be apparent that a simple centering means has been providedfor centering the plate upon its supporting platform in proper alignmentto receive the rubber transfer sheet.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed:

l. A silk screen printing apparatus comprising a table having threestations, a silk screen arrangement and means 4for guiding said silkscreen arrangement between two stations, one of said two stations havingan opening therein, a transfer assembly hingedly connected to said tablewithin said opening and hingeable between the one station and the thirdstation, a ceramic article supporting frame lying within the table atthe third station and said transfer assembly being movable to andcenterable over the ceramic article support at the third station, saidtransfer assembly having a rubber sheet for receiving the pattern fromthe silk screen arrangement and air means connected to the transferassembly to expand the rubber sheet when positioned over the ceramicarticle to effect the printing of the article.

2. A silk screen apparatus as defined in claim 1, and a hold down devicelocated at the third station and adjustable upon the table forengagement with the transfer sheet assembly to hold the same in placeover the ceramic plate and a control valve associated with said holddown device for controlling the supply of air and the exhausting of thesame to and from the rubber sheet transfer assembly.

3. A silk screen apparatus as defined in claim l, and said silk screenarrangement having an adjustable stop thereon, a fixed stop on saidtable and engageable by the adjustable stop on the silk screen toproperly position the silk screen over the rubber sheet prior to thepattern being transferred to the rubber transfer sheet assembly.

4. A silk screen apparatus as defined in claim l, and said rubber sheethaving an opening therein, a tubular structure connected to said rubbersheet and adjustable therewith through which leakage of air trappedbetween the printing face of the rubber sheet and the surface of thedisc is removed so as not to interfere with the printing operation.

5. A silk screen apparatus as defined in claim l, and said table havinga fourth station extending atright angles and rearwardly thereof, saidfourth station and said intermediate station having guiding means and asecond silk screen arrangement adjustable at right angles from thedirection of adjustment of the first mentioned silk screeningarrangement, said second silk screen arrangement being adapted toprovide a different color to the finished ceramic article, said secondsilk screen arrangement being adapted to provide a different pattern forthe ceramic plate and through which a different colored printing can beeffected.

6. An apparatus for decorating ceramic articles comprising an elongatedtable, a design transfer member set in said table and hinged on one sidethereto, said design transfer member including a hollow metallic blockhaving an opening in one side, a perforated disc placed in the opening,a resilient, non-absorbent sheet having a afsaaae small opening coveringsaid dise, a tubular element con nected to the opening in the resilientsheet and passing through and out of said hollow block and a conduitcommunicating with said hollow block, a printing carriage supporting asilk screen, said carriage being adapted to ride in guideways on saidtable whereby said silk screen majr be positioned over said resilientsheet, and an article supporting member set in said table adjacent tothe hinged side of said hollow block, said article supporting memberincluding an inclined annular seating portion, a vertically adjustableplatform disposed within said annular seating portion, a ring resting onsaid annular seating portion, a plurality of biased slots in said ring,a plurality of radially movable lingers provided with upwardly extendingpins, said iingers being seated in radiaily extending slots in saidannular seating portion and said pins being disposed within the biasedslots in said ring, means for turning said ring, and a plurality ofarcuate segments disposed above said ring.

7. An apparatus for decorating ceramic articles as defined in claim 6,having an article ejector mechanism including a supporting memberprovided with a bearing, a shaft passing through said bearing and havinga button on one end, a compression spring disposed between saidsupporting member and said button, and a rod pivotally 'attached to thesecond end of said shaft and extending into anopening in the inclinedportion of said annular seating portion.

8. An apparatus for decorating ceramic articles as dened in claim 6,having a locking and control device including a vertically disposedrotatable turning post, a horizontally disposed member attached to theupper end of said vertically disposed post, said horizontally disposedrneniber having at one end a handle portion and on the second end androtatable thereon a cylindrical member, and a stem depending from saidvertically disposed post and adapted to operate an air control valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,178,259 Kjell oci. 31, 1939 2,315,730 Orthwine Apr. 6, 1943 FOREIGNPATENTS 211,719 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1924

